long after the ball, the memory of the ball lingered in her mind. She was so restless and could barely sleep, even when she tried; all she could see in her sleep was the picture of Henry's hand wrapped around her back, dancing with her, and the sight of Jacob down the hallway. Few days after the ball sarah slipped out as she normally did to see her prince charming at a place called the old stone bridge on the outskirts of town a place she and Jacob called their own, she saw him there leaning against the railing with his hands shoved into his coat pockets her heart ached with relief and she whispered ''you shouldn't have come to the ball'' Jacob had a hard expression but although his eyes softened at the sight of her and her replied her ''and watch you parade around with henry Donovan like a prize mare? i couldn't sarah reached for his hand, her fingers trembling. ''you put yourself at risk , what of if our little secret went out then Jacob fiercely responded ''and what if it was let out i am really tired of hiding, i am tired of sneaking around like what we have is something to be ashamed of, her breath caught ''but if they find out'' ''They already suspect, he cut in your brother, your parents, and almost everyone around us. Do you think denying it makes us safer? No. It makes us miserable, Sarah's eyes filled with tears. What choice do we have? If my father disowns me, I lose everything. if they ruin you, your family looses everything and i cant imagine my life without you Jacob then cupped her face, his thumbs brushing her cheek tenderly ''Then dont we will make our own life together her hammered at the raw conviction in his voice but before she could respond a voice cut through the silence ''well isn't this charming?'' just for sarah to turn around and see it was her little brother Charles standing across them. ''charles'' sarah begun, but her brother raised a hand!! Save it. I watched you wander around during odd hours. Now I have proof of it. He looked at Jacob shabbily and said The son of our rival, do you know what this would do to our family's name?'' Jacob then stepped forward in order to defend his lover ''your sister is not a possession, she is a woman and she has the right to choose. Charles chuckled and looked at Jacob. Choose''? Don't flatter yourself. She is a Whitmore. You are nothing but a distraction, one I intend to eliminate. Sarah tried to get in between them to try to stop them from going against each other, and Charles just smiled and told his sister You have messed up big time, our father must hear of this. And Jacobs' jaw clenched. If you tell him you will break her heart, is that what you want, to destroy your own sister? And Charles hesitated for a while, but eventually pride won, and he told Sarah You have done this to yourself, don't expect me to protect you he turned and strode away, leaving both Sarah and Jacob confused. The next morning, Richard summoned Sarah to his study, knowing fully well all that had taken place the previous day, as had been told by Charles. Is it true? Do you have anything to do with this boy? Sarah shaked and trembled and struggled to look at his face, but managed to mutter an unconvincing yes to her father. There was a great shock in the room as her father could not believe what he had just heard, as well as his mother, who was nearby. Richard angrily responded, saying You are a shame to this family. After everything we have done for you as a family, is this what you can do to repay us? Throwing yourself at a commoner? she replied to her father. He is not common; he is kind, strong, and he loves me. Isn't that what matters? Her father thundered with a raging voice What matters is duty, loyalty, and legacy!! You will end this farce immediately, or you will cease to be a daughter of mine!! her mother trembled at what her father had just said sarahs heart ponded, she could barely breathe but under the weight of the ultimatum but yet she thought of Jacob then she made her mind up and said ''and so be it'' Richard could not belief what he just heard from his daughter his eyes widened in disbelief ''what did you say'' then sarah who could barely look at his face said ''I will not leave Jacob not for you, not for henry Donovan, not for anyone if it means I loosethis family then I loose it. For a long while, silence filled the whole atmosphere, then Richard turned away with rage and told her to get out, and she was no longer welcome in this house. Sarah left the room in tears but managed to muster some form of dignity as she left. That night as she left the house she met Jacob once more and told him about all that had panned out at her house earlier then Jacob embraced her into her arms holding her as if he could shield her from the world, and told her ''then we will face it together, let them rage let them threaten, they cannot touch what we have. Sarah clung to him, sobbing into his chest, and yet beneath the fear, a fierce flame of defiance burned in her heart for the first time. She had chosen not out of duty but out of love, and there was no going back from there on.